Chapter Summaries

Daoxuanzi warned Huang Xiao that the Demon Hall might hunt him if it discovered his Demonic Arts, then explained the differences between the Half-Step Martial Realm, Void Martial Realm, and Martial Realm. The chapter left Huang Xiao with a taste of Void Martial momentum and a clearer idea of the path ahead.

• Daoxuanzi told Huang Xiao that the Demon Hall might reject him or pursue him for possessing its cultivation methods, so Huang Xiao should use his Demonic Art sparingly.
• Daoxuanzi refused to teach Huang Xiao the complete Upper Clarity Heart Scripture but offered to answer one question about martial arts.
• Huang Xiao asked how the Half-Step Martial Realm, Void Martial Realm, and Martial Realm differed, recalling Yang Hengchang's control over Heaven and Earth Momentum.
• Daoxuanzi explained that the three realms involved preliminary, basic, and complete control over Heaven and Earth Momentum, respectively.
• Daoxuanzi demonstrated Void Martial momentum, showing Huang Xiao how its force overwhelmed his own control.
• Daoxuanzi explained that Martial Realm momentum refined Void Martial momentum into perfected control over Heaven and Earth Momentum.

Huang Xiao learned that the Martial Realm encompassed three stages and discussed the coming search for the Phoenix with Daoxuanzi. After Daoxuanzi left to recover from his injuries, Huang Xiao examined the Minghong Saber and saw that the rare minerals it had absorbed had removed only a little of its rust.

• Daoxuanzi explained that the half-step Martial Realm, Void Martial Realm, and Martial Realm were stages of one realm, each involving a different degree of control over Heaven and Earth Momentum.
• Huang Xiao asked about Daoxuanzi's interest in Fan Zhongkun's Inugami and the Phoenix, and Daoxuanzi predicted that the Phoenix would soon be hunted now that its aura had been sensed.
• Daoxuanzi said he would pursue the Phoenix Blood from Yang Hengchang after several days of recuperation, easing Huang Xiao's worries about the Demon-Ghost Blood Curse.
• Huang Xiao drew the Minghong Saber and noticed that the rare minerals it had absorbed had removed only a small amount of the blade's rust.
• The Minghong Saber trembled as if asking for more mineral essence, but Huang Xiao said he could not provide the rare materials it needed.

Huang Xiao learned that the Rare Treasures Pavilion would let him choose a reward for winning the competition, and Pei Yi urged him to request Senior Li's Three Forms Fragmentary Sword Manual. Pei Yi revealed that she had once obtained the manual but ultimately failed to keep it, leaving Zhangsun Youyue asking whether the Heavenly Sword Sect had taken it back.

• Huang Xiao spoke to the Minghong Saber about finding another way to remove its rust, then met Zhangsun Youyue in the main hall the next morning.
• Pei Yi said she had spoken with Dao Xuanzi outside his secluded courtyard and advised Zhangsun Youyue to show him more respect.
• Zhangsun Youyue told Huang Xiao that Liao Dunqi of the Rare Treasures Pavilion would soon discuss his competition reward with him.
• Pei Yi explained that Liao Dunqi was likely acting out of respect for Senior Li and encouraged Huang Xiao to ask for a suitable treasure.
• Pei Yi asked Huang Xiao to request Senior Li's Three Forms Fragmentary Sword Manual, and Huang Xiao agreed.
• Pei Yi admitted she had not ultimately obtained the manual, prompting Zhangsun Youyue to ask whether the Heavenly Sword Sect had taken it back.

Huang Xiao learned why the Three Forms Fragmentary Sword Manual had returned to the Rare Treasures Pavilion and agreed to seek it from Liao Dunqi in exchange for suitable compensation. Liao Dunqi arrived to meet Huang Xiao, but had not yet revealed his purpose.

• Pei Yi explained that the Rare Treasures Pavilion's Three Pavilion Masters had taken back the Three Forms Fragmentary Sword Manual and that seizing it again would provoke them.
• Pei Yi said she had hoped to negotiate with the Three Pavilion Masters through Daoxuanzi, but he had declined to help.
• Huang Xiao agreed to ask Liao Dunqi for the manual and offer more than the Heavenly Sword Sect had paid, so the Rare Treasures Pavilion could compensate the Sword Pavilion.
• Huang Xiao waited with Pei Yi and Zhangsun Youyue until Liao Dunqi arrived, and Pei Yi welcomed him into the hall.
• Liao Dunqi said he had come to see Huang Xiao, and Pei Yi invited him to speak freely.

After winning his contest against Feng Xiaofeng, Huang Xiao requested the Three Forms Fragmentary Sword Manual as his reward from the Rare Treasures Pavilion. Liao Dunqi agreed to give it to him outright, leaving Pei Yi pleased and the manual destined for Bishui Palace.

• Liao Dunqi told Huang Xiao he could choose a treasure as his victory reward from the Rare Treasures Pavilion.
• Huang Xiao asked for the Three Forms Fragmentary Sword Manual, and Pei Yi revealed that Bishui Palace had asked him to help obtain it.
• Pei Yi said Huang Xiao would exchange for the manual with Bishui Palace’s offer, including Phoenix Blood, but Liao Dunqi explained the pavilion had none and could not provide it.
• Huang Xiao affirmed his request, and Liao Dunqi agreed to give him the sword manual without payment.
• Liao Dunqi explained that the pavilion could compensate the Heavenly Sword Sect for its stolen treasure and keep the manual’s return quiet, and Pei Yi thanked him.

Liao Dunqi gave Huang Xiao a Rare Treasures Pavilion VIP Token and delivered the Three Forms Fragmentary Sword Manual to Pei Yi. Huang Xiao learned that the Dragon and Tiger Rankings would be renewed in six months, giving him a chance to challenge for a place in Imperial Province.

• Liao Dunqi gave Huang Xiao a VIP Token and handed the Three Forms Fragmentary Sword Manual to Pei Yi.
• Liao Dunqi asked about Huang Xiao’s plans, and Huang Xiao said he would stay in Chaotic Province before possibly visiting Imperial Province.
• Liao Dunqi said experts would gather in Imperial Province in half a year and expressed high hopes for Huang Xiao.
• Zhangsun Youyue told Pei Yi she planned to take part in the coming rankings renewal, and Pei Yi explained that the Dragon and Tiger Rankings were updated every ten years.
• Huang Xiao asked about the difficulty of challenging ranked experts, and Pei Yi described the rankings’ age limits and the types of experts who competed.

Pei Yi urged Zhangsun Youyue and Huang Xiao to aim for the top five on the Dragon Rankings, then decided that she and Zhangsun Youyue would return to Bishui Palace. Huang Xiao stayed at the Water Pavilion to await Daoxuanzi’s recovery and offered to demonstrate the Seventh Swordsmanship Form before Zhangsun Youyue left.

• Pei Yi explained the Dragon Rankings contest and told Zhangsun Youyue that she had six months to reach the Half-Step Martial Realm if she wanted to compete.
• Pei Yi set the top five as the goal for both Zhangsun Youyue and Huang Xiao, and Huang Xiao vowed not to lose to his peers.
• Pei Yi told Zhangsun Youyue that they would return to Bishui Palace the day after tomorrow so she could focus on cultivating.
• Zhangsun Youyue and Pei Yi invited Huang Xiao to stay at the Water Pavilion, and Zhangsun Youyue arranged to meet him in Imperial Province in six months.
• Huang Xiao accepted their invitation while waiting for Daoxuanzi to recover, then offered to demonstrate the Seventh Swordsmanship Form to Zhangsun Youyue the next day.

Huang Xiao agreed to teach Zhangsun Youyue the Seventh Form and examined a sword manual, concluding it was not written by Senior Li. He then exchanged sword moves with Zhangsun Youyue, who interpreted his decision to set aside the sword as a way to gain insight.

• Pei Yi approved Huang Xiao teaching Zhangsun Youyue the Seventh Form, and Huang Xiao warned that the silk manual was not Senior Li’s work and should not be followed as genuine swordsmanship.
• Pei Yi said Zhangsun Youyue could study the Three Forms for reference, and Huang Xiao and Zhangsun Youyue left the hall.
• Zhangsun Youyue asked Huang Xiao to exchange pointers on Transcendent Immortal Swordsmanship, and he proposed comparing sword moves without internal power.
• Huang Xiao followed Zhangsun Youyue to her courtyard and explained that he had set aside the sword because he had reached a bottleneck.
• Zhangsun Youyue praised Huang Xiao’s choice to switch to a saber, and he considered that stepping back from swordsmanship might help him gain insight.

Huang Xiao sparred with Zhangsun Youyue and used his swordsmanship to counter her moves, explaining that his version incorporated other insights. He then demonstrated the seventh form of Transcendent Immortal Swordsmanship in its original form, leaving Zhangsun Youyue to consider how it connected to the six forms she knew.

• Zhangsun Youyue demonstrated her swordsmanship and invited Huang Xiao to exchange moves with her.
• Huang Xiao countered Zhangsun Youyue’s techniques until she conceded that she could not fight back.
• Zhangsun Youyue noticed Huang Xiao’s sword intent differed from hers, and Huang Xiao said his swordsmanship incorporated other insights.
• Huang Xiao offered to demonstrate the seventh form of Transcendent Immortal Swordsmanship, and Zhangsun Youyue eagerly accepted.
• Huang Xiao demonstrated the seventh form as Senior Li’s original swordsmanship, and Zhangsun Youyue watched before falling into thought.

Zhangsun Youyue studied Huang Xiao’s sword forms and worried about reaching the Half-Step Martial Realm in time for the Imperial Province Ranking Contest. After she left, a letter revealed that the Heavenly Sword Sect was plotting against the Transcendent Immortal Escort Agency, prompting Huang Xiao to summon Zhu Yang and Liu Yu.

• Zhangsun Youyue thanked Huang Xiao for demonstrating the seventh sword form and said she hoped to reach the Half-Step Martial Realm within six months.
• Huang Xiao promised Zhangsun Youyue that they would compete when they reached the Imperial Province.
• Huang Xiao examined the black VIP Token from the Rare Treasures Pavilion and discovered its concealed identifying aura.
• Zhangsun Youyue and her companions left two days later, and Pei Yi urged Huang Xiao’s group to travel to the Imperial Province soon.
• Zhangsun Youyue sent Huang Xiao a letter warning that the Heavenly Sword Sect was plotting against the Transcendent Immortal Escort Agency, and Huang Xiao showed it to Zhu Yang and Liu Yu.
• Lin Kuisheng accepted compensation from the Rare Treasures Pavilion for the stolen Three Forms Fragmentary Sword Manual, then learned from his nephew that the Transcendent Immortal Escort Agency possessed the swordsmanship he could pursue instead.

After learning that Lin Kuisheng and Lin Chusheng threatened the Transcendent Immortal Escort Agency, Liu Yu prepared to return, and Huang Xiao and Zhu Yang decided to accompany him. Huang Xiao then visited Daoxuanzi, who asked whether he was still thinking about the Phoenix Blood.

• Zhangsun Youyue informed Huang Xiao about the danger facing the Transcendent Immortal Escort Agency, and Liu Yu decided to return to help his father.
• Huang Xiao and Zhu Yang offered to go with Liu Yu, despite his concern that they would provoke the Heavenly Sword Sect.
• Huang Xiao argued that Lin Kuisheng and Lin Chusheng were likely acting on their own and said his connection to Senior Li could help protect the agency.
• Huang Xiao assessed that he might not defeat Lin Kuisheng but believed he could make him back down, then went to say goodbye to Daoxuanzi.
• Daoxuanzi told Huang Xiao his injuries were no longer a problem and asked whether he was still thinking about the Phoenix Blood.

Huang Xiao left Mist City with Zhu Yang and Liu Yu to return to Qinyang City after learning that the Heavenly Sword Sect was targeting the Transcendent Immortal Escort Agency. Meanwhile, Lin Chusheng’s party rode toward Qinyang City to capture Liu Jinyi and force him to reveal the family’s swordsmanship.

• Daoxuanzi assured Huang Xiao that Yang Hengchang remained in Chaotic Province, promised to secure the Phoenix Blood, and warned him to be cautious around the Heavenly Sword Sect.
• Huang Xiao said he was returning to Qinyang City to deal with the Heavenly Sword Sect’s attempt to seize the Transcendent Immortal Escort Agency’s swordsmanship.
• Huang Xiao, Zhu Yang, and Liu Yu left Mist City and traveled toward Qinyang City using their lightness arts.
• He Jingui told Lin Chusheng that Liu Jinyi was at home in Qinyang City and that the group could capture him to obtain the Transcendent Immortal Swordsmanship.
• Lin Chusheng dismissed a warning about Jianghu people ahead, confident that his third uncle’s half-step martial realm strength would keep the party safe.

Lin Kuisheng and his party fled when a terrified crowd of Jianghu people rushed toward them, pursued by an unknown killer. After learning little about the threat, Lin Kuisheng continued to carry his struggling nephew Lin Chusheng as they ran.

• Lin Kuisheng ordered his party to turn back after spotting the panicked crowd racing toward them.
• Lin Kuisheng, Lin Chusheng, He Jingui, and the others abandoned their horses and fled on foot as people were trampled and killed.
• Lin Kuisheng slowed down to help Lin Chusheng keep up, allowing several Half-Step Martial Realm experts to catch them.
• Shi Tiannan told Lin Kuisheng that a killer, possibly connected to the Evil Dao, was slaughtering people and warned him that Lin Chusheng would hinder their escape.
• Lin Chusheng clung to Lin Kuisheng in terror, nearly tripping him as Lin Kuisheng demanded that he let go.

Lin Kuisheng fled with Lin Chusheng as Fan Zhongkun slaughtered the Half-Step Martial Realm experts who had pursued Inugami. Fan Zhongkun charged past the fleeing crowd, leaving the survivors to turn back, while Lin Kuisheng and Lin Chusheng remained caught up in the chaos.

• Lin Kuisheng carried his terrified nephew, Lin Chusheng, as he caught up with Shi Tiannan and asked what had happened.
• Shi Tiannan explained that Fan Zhongkun had succumbed to Inugami’s evil influence and gained strength enough to kill several Half-Step Martial Realm experts.
• Lin Kuisheng realized Fan Zhongkun might now possess Void Martial Realm strength, while Shi Tiannan warned him to flee alone and sped ahead.
• Lin Kuisheng continued fleeing with Lin Chusheng as screams behind them grew louder and Fan Zhongkun seemed to draw near.
• The cries behind Lin Kuisheng changed when Fan Zhongkun charged past the fleeing crowd, prompting the survivors to turn back and abandon their pursuit of Inugami.

Fan Zhongkun pursued Lin Kuisheng and the other strongest fighters after slaughtering the Jianghu fighters, and his overwhelming power made escape seem impossible. Lin Kuisheng stopped fleeing and gathered the survivors to stake everything on a fight.

• Lin Kuisheng and the fleeing experts saw Fan Zhongkun approach through the air and realized he had targeted them.
• Fan Zhongkun disrupted the Half-Step Martial Realm experts’ flight, while Shi Tiannan urged them to join forces instead of splitting up.
• Four fighters fled separately, but Fan Zhongkun pursued one and killed him almost immediately before turning after another.
• Lin Kuisheng stopped, put Lin Chusheng down, and rallied the remaining nine Half-Step Martial Realm experts and three Peerless Realm experts to fight Fan Zhongkun.

Lin Kuisheng sent Lin Chusheng away and gathered with eleven other experts to prepare for Fan Zhongkun’s return. Fan Zhongkun arrived with Inugami and destroyed their hastily made formations with a single slash.

• Lin Kuisheng urged Lin Chusheng to flee, and Lin Chusheng escaped toward Mist City.
• Shi Tiannan criticized Lin Chusheng, while the twelve remaining experts waited for Fan Zhongkun.
• Lin Kuisheng called for a coordinated plan, but the experts could not agree on a leader.
• Shi Tiannan suggested setting up formations, and the experts hastily laid out several despite doubts about their usefulness.
• Fan Zhongkun returned with the bloodstained Inugami and mocked the group’s formations.
• Fan Zhongkun swung Inugami once and shattered all the formations around the experts.

Fan Zhongkun used Inugami to attack Lin Kuisheng and the other experts, whose weapons could not withstand the Evil Blade. After killing three of them with one slash, he charged the nine survivors as they tried to hold him off until help arrived.

• Fan Zhongkun declared that he would use Inugami to take revenge on the Jianghu experts, while Lin Kuisheng urged the others to kill him and seize the blade.
• Lin Kuisheng and eleven other experts attacked Fan Zhongkun together, but Inugami broke three of their weapons.
• Fan Zhongkun used Commanding Heaven and Earth Momentum to disrupt the attackers and killed three men with a single slash.
• Shi Tiannan warned the survivors to be careful, and Lin Kuisheng urged them to stall Fan Zhongkun until reinforcements arrived.
• Fan Zhongkun laughed and charged at the nine remaining experts.

Huang Xiao and his companions headed back toward Qinyang City, where they met Liu Zhi, who was pursuing the Heavenly Sword Sect over the Three Forms Fragmentary Sword Manual. Liu Zhi explained that the Imperial Court hoped to use the manual to win Bishui Palace’s support, and Huang Xiao learned that the struggle over it was part of a wider contest for power.

• Huang Xiao and his companions encountered Liu Zhi on the road, and Liu Zhi apologized for City Lord Liang’s earlier offense.
• Liu Zhi asked whether Huang Xiao had seen Lin Kuisheng and Lin Chusheng, explaining that he had come to reclaim the Three Forms Fragmentary Sword Manual from them.
• Huang Xiao realized Liu Zhi did not know that Lin Kuisheng no longer possessed the sword manual.
• Liu Zhi revealed that the Imperial Court wanted the manual to offer Bishui Palace and gain its goodwill against the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Huang Xiao and Liu Zhi agreed to pursue Lin Kuisheng and the Transcendent Immortal Sword Manual, but their journey was halted when crowds of martial artists fled toward them. The survivors warned that Fan Zhongkun was slaughtering people and had killed several Half-Step Martial Realm experts, leaving Huang Xiao and Liu Zhi uncertain whether the reports were exaggerated.

• Huang Xiao agreed to join Liu Zhi in pursuing Lin Kuisheng, while explaining that he sought the swordsmanship at the Transcendent Immortal Escort Agency rather than the Three Forms Fragmentary Sword Manual.
• Liu Zhi recognized that Lin Kuisheng was heading toward Qinyang City, and he and Huang Xiao decided to chase him on foot.
• Huang Xiao and his companions saw growing crowds of martial artists fleeing toward them and stopped to learn what had happened ahead.
• The fleeing martial artists warned Huang Xiao and Liu Zhi that Fan Zhongkun had gone on a killing spree and slain several Half-Step Martial Realm experts.
• Liu Zhi and Huang Xiao doubted that Fan Zhongkun, previously a Peerless Upper Grade expert, could have killed so many powerful opponents, and they suspected the reports were exaggerated.

Huang Xiao's group decided to avoid Fan Zhongkun, but they caught Lin Chusheng fleeing alone and brought him before Liu Zhi. Liu Zhi questioned Lin Chusheng about his plans for Qinyang City and raised the Transcendent Immortal Escort Agency's connection to Huang Xiao and Senior Transcendent Immortal Sword Lord.

• Huang Xiao urged his group to detour around Fan Zhongkun, and Liu Zhi agreed while worrying about Lin Kuisheng's fate.
• Huang Xiao spotted Lin Chusheng approaching, and Liu Zhi ordered the old eunuch to seize him.
• Lin Chusheng, who had fled after leaving Lin Kuisheng behind, was captured and thrown before Liu Zhi.
• Liu Zhi questioned Lin Chusheng about why he and Lin Kuisheng had planned to go to Qinyang City.
• Liu Zhi told Huang Xiao that the Transcendent Immortal Escort Agency in Qinyang City was connected to him and Senior Transcendent Immortal Sword Lord.